AutoWeb shoppers had a clear preference this year, and they chose the 2019 Subaru Forester as the Buyer’s Choice Best Midsize SUV Award winner. Far from going stale, the Forester is roaring out of the gate after five generations of production. It received huge upgrades to its design, technology, and convenience features for 2019.

When the Forester debuted in the US in 1998, it was completely unique and, frankly, kind of an oddball. It had a tall, boxy greenhouse set on the Impreza's compact car platform. But the functional design caught on, especially since it came with a zippy powertrain and standard all-wheel drive. Generations followed, each with incremental refinements that smoothed the Forester’s rough edges and dampened its quirkiness without compromising its appeal and competence. Now we have 10 reasons buyers preferred the 2019 Subaru Forester over the others in the Midsize SUV class.

10) Its got a new engine.

Subaru’s engine layout of choice has long been the horizontally-opposed boxer type, which differs from the prevailing inline four-cylinder configuration found in most competitors. Boxer engines are naturally counter-balanced and smooth-running. The layout is also shallower than inline designs, which allows for lower placement in the engine bay, resulting in a lower center of gravity — great for handling.

The new Boxer engine in the 2019 Forester displaces 2.5 liters with four horizontally opposed cylinders. And thanks to new direct gasoline injection and a Dual Active Valve Control System, it produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, up 12 hp from the 2018 Forester’s 2.5-liter engine.

9) It has improved fuel economy with lower emissions than its predecessor.

The 2019 Subaru Forester manages a rare achievement with its new engine. Not only does it offer increased horsepower, but it also travels farther on a gallon of gas than the outgoing model. That means that driving a new Forester will cost less per mile than driving a fourth-generation model.

The EPA estimates that the 2019 Forester can achieve 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined, using regular-grade 87-octane unleaded fuel. The 2018 Forester 2.5i was rated at 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway/28 mpg combined. Meanwhile, the new Forester is rated California LEV-III SULEV30, a 7 out of 10 smog rating, the same as last year. But the 2019 engine has a lower output of greenhouse gases, 310 grams per mile versus 315 grams per mile.

8) All-wheel drive is a standard feature.

Like every Subaru model except the rear-wheel drive two-door BRZ, the Forester comes with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as a standard feature. This capability has been a Forester hallmark with each generation and is a big part of the model’s appeal. Even budget-minded buyers appreciate the inclusion of all-wheel drive, and Subaru’s system is sophisticated and effective.

Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive uses an electronically managed continuously variable transfer clutch. This clutch actively manages the transmission’s torque output, sending it to the wheels with the best grip based on input from sensors that monitor acceleration, deceleration, and available traction. On the Forester, the all-wheel drive system includes Active Torque Vectoring (on all but the base model), which helps with cornering and turn-in, even on dry surfaces. During cornering, more torque is directed to the outside wheels, effectively pushing the SUV into the turn. The effect is subtle yet effective, and it improves handling.

7) It handles bad weather conditions extremely well.

Subaru sells more Forester crossovers in the northern U.S. than in the South. In some popular ski resorts, the Forester is so common in snowy parking lots that it is almost a cliché. This is certainly a tribute to its standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, but even more to its drive modes and other weather-beating features.

One feature, called “X-Mode,” lets you select the mode best suited to current driving conditions from mud to snow, and matches throttle, transmission, and braking performance. There's also hill descent control, which makes off-road driving down steep hills effortless. Add up Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, and X-Mode, and you’ve got a formula for sure-footed, confident handling in even the worst conditions.

6) The interior is rugged — like an SUV, and quiet — like a car.

Subaru has been inching its interiors more upscale with each iteration. Thankfully, the Forester’s interior retains the openness and utility of its SUV roots, while also absorbing many car-like comfort features and amenities.

In terms of comfort, the Forester’s front seats have been upgraded with more supportive cushions and bolstering. The 2019 model’s wheelbase has been stretched by 1.2 inches to 105.1 inches, which translates into an additional 0.3 inches of rear legroom. The doors have been re-engineered to open wider, making access to the second row easier — a boon to parents with car seats. Particular attention has been lavished on cabin sound levels. Additional sound-deadening material has been added to the doors and undercarriage, and exterior mirrors and trim have been smoothed to reduce wind noise. The result is a new level of calm within the Forester’s airy greenhouse.

5) Standard Starlink infotainment is loaded with features.

The 2019 Forester comes with the latest Subaru Starlink infotainment system. The base system comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, AM/FM/SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Starlink apps are also standard, including iHeart Radio, Stitcher, and Yelp. An 8-inch touchscreen is available as an option starting with the Sport trim and is standard on the Limited and above. Navigation and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system are available on the Limited and standard on the Touring.

Overall, the Forester comes with a solid system that provides what people want and not an endless list of features most will never use. Even with the base system, you can connect your smartphone with a USB cable and use its navigation and other features with the elegantly integrated Apple CarPlay or Android Auto systems.

4) It's hungry for cargo.

One of the big reasons that buyers give for migrating from sedans to crossover vehicles is cargo capacity, and the 2019 Subaru Forester is designed to fulfill that need. Behind its second row of seating, there’s room for 35.4 cubic feet of luggage. The second row folds flat in a 60/40 split, opening up a 76.1-cubic-foot cargo hold. The Forester's cargo hold is 34.8 inches high and 43.3 inches wide, so loading bulky items is easy. That mountain bike will go right in, and longer items like skis can slide right up to the center console.

The Forester gets a power liftgate this year, optional on the Sport and standard on Limited and Touring models. The liftgate is height-adjustable to accommodate shorter drivers and those with low garage ceilings. Its dual-mode closer lets you shut the back hatch and lock all the doors in one touch.

3) It's outfitted for safety.

The 2019 Subaru Forester is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick, with the highest ratings in all crash ratings, front-crash prevention, and ease of use for LATCH car seat anchors. The 2019 model hasn’t yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but the 2018 Forester received an overall five-star rating, the highest available.

Every trim level of 2019 Forester comes standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance technology. This suite includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, a lane-departure warning, a trailer-sway warning, a lead-vehicle start alert, and lane-keeping assist. The top-of-the-line Touring model features a new DriverFocus safety system that uses facial recognition software to identify signs of fatigue or distraction, then gives a visual and audible warning to alert the driver to the situation.

There are just five trim levels of 2019 Forester, down from eight levels for 2018 (as Subaru eliminated a turbocharged engine option and a manual transmission). This year's Forester trim levels are: Base (starting at $24,295), Premium (starting at $26,695), Sport (starting at $28,795), Limited (starting at $30,795), and Touring (starting at $34,295). All trim levels come with the 2.5-liter Boxer engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, EyeSight, and Starlink infotainment.

The only option package available on the Base model is a $600 Alloy Wheel Package. The Premium can add packages that include keyless access and starting, blind-spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert, all-weather comfort, and a power liftgate. Sport can add the Multimedia Plus package, Harmon Kardon audio, and a power liftgate, while the Limited can add all that plus navigation. The Touring is loaded with all of the options out of the box.

1) It is the most attractive version of the Forester yet.

Though the latest changes to the Forester’s design are incremental, they have made a big difference to the overall look and appeal of the once-gawky crossover. The headlights are the eyes of a vehicle, and the Forester’s standard LED high- and low-beam units are expressive and sharp. LED is a much more efficient light source than Xenon, and these lights are also equipped with an auto on/off mode, even on the Base model.

The lower grille of the Forester has active grille shutters, which can contribute to improved aerodynamics and fuel economy. The side mirrors have been smoothed and reshaped for better airflow and less wind noise — and they look better, too. The body sides are more sculpted and athletic, contributing to an overall crisper look than before. Add up all of these reasons, and it’s no mystery why the 2019 Subaru Forester won the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Midsize SUV Award.